Government Academy to showcase Clayton’s tornado efforts

Clayton residents can get a behind the scenes look at government operations for the next six weeks. CONTRIBUTED

CLAYTON — The city of Clayton begins its second annual Government Academy tonight with a focus on how the city responded to the Memorial Day tornadoes.

For the next six weeks, residents in attendance will get a chance to go behind the scenes in different departments within the city. Each week, a different department head will show them the inner operations.

“Residents will get to see what goes into the daily workings of the city of Clayton, get to tour equipment and apparatus and find out how each department works hard at making sure Clayton continues being ranked as the best place to raise a family in Montgomery County,” said Jack Kuntz, director of development.

Police will cover investigations, command staff, daily operations, proactive enforcement, and community programs, plus participants will take a tour of the facilities.

The development department will let residents learn about code and economic development, zoning and code enforcement and how Clayton plans to look toward the future.

The services department is another name for the public works department. Residents will see projects that are in the works that includes paving, leaf pick up, snow removal and take a tour of the new equipment.

The fiscal team will show attendees how budgets are developed and how the different services provided by the city are paid for.

The fire department will cover fire and EMS services, explanations on how emergency calls work and the programs available for residents. The department will also demonstrate equipment and medic units to show the technology in both.

The administration will wrap up the academy and show how the council and its meetings work, plus how the city operates.

This year’s academy will explain each role of the departments during the Memorial Day tornadoes.

“From the setup of the emergency response center, first responders in the field immediately after the tornadoes hit, the Service Department clearing debris with live wires, public relations and information going out to our residents, community outreach, to the financial reimbursement side of the recovery/working with FEMA, each department played a major role in Clayton’s response,” Kuntz said.

Clayton has more than 13,000 residents and 200 businesses, Kuntz said.

“Our leaders want to ensure every resident who attends the academy leaves at the end with a better understanding of how Clayton operates but also that all the men and women who work for Clayton are truly here to help our community every way possible,” Kuntz said.

The city will accept up to 20 residents for the government academy.

The event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Clayton Government Center on Taywood Road.

Visit the city’s website or contact Kuntz at 937-836-3500 for more information or to register.